Obtaining services from product providers

ABSTRACT

Product providers can offer matched prices for the products to the customers through a platform surveying the available prices from sale agents. The platform can determine lowest prices from the sale agents, and use this information to have an agreement with the product providers to sell the products at compatible prices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/233,209, filed Sep. 25, 2015, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

Product providers, such as airlines, hotel facilities, car rentalagencies, cruise operators, tour operators, and travel packagers, canemploy agents for reselling their products. For example, a person canbook for a hotel room or can rent a car through a travel agency. Theagents, while serving to boost the sale of the products, can presentsome disadvantages for the product providers, such as reducing namerecognition, lacking customer database, and loss of revenue for theproviders.

For example, the agents can offer discounts, e.g., selling the productsat a reduced price as compared to the full price offered by the productproviders. This can reduce the name recognition for the productproviders, since when needing the products; the customers can firstapproach the agents, instead of the product providers, to purchase theproducts. For example, a travel agency can offer a room at a Marriotthotel at an 85% of the full price that a customer can purchase throughthe Marriott website. This can lead to customers avoiding the hotelwebsites since they are perceived as having higher prices for the sameproduct.

Further, booking through the agencies can deprive the product providersthe detail information of the customers, e.g., reducing the customerdatabase of the product providers. The agencies can obtain a lot ofinformation about the customers, such as the customer preferences towardtravels and staying, but only sharing a minimum amount of informationwith the product providers.

Further, booking through the agencies can mean a loss of revenue for theproduct providers, since the agency prices, though significantly lessthan the full price can still be higher than the price that the agenciespay the product providers.

Thus there is a need for improving the operations of the productproviders.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor assisting customers to obtain best available prices of products tothe customers. The methods can also improve operations of the productprovider, such as increasing name recognition, increasing customer base,and increasing revenue.

In some embodiments, the methods can include telling the productproviders about the offers available on the market, for example, bysurveying the available prices offered by sale agents, and asking theproduct providers to match the best prices. The methods can includemaking an agreement with the product providers about matching the offersfrom sale agents. With the agreement, a platform can provide customerswith product prices that can be lowest on the market. After thecustomers accept the offers from the platform, the platform can directthe customers to the product providers for purchase. The direct contactof the customers with the product providers can be beneficial to theproduct providers.

In some embodiments, the methods can include receiving inquiry fromcustomers about the products, then surveying the available pricesoffered by the sale agents, and then contacting the product providersfor matching prices.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses using multipleidentities in assisting a customer in obtaining flight itineraries frommultiple airlines. A personal or individual identity can be used tocontact individual airlines through their websites to obtain flightitineraries, and other flight information related to the flightitineraries. A corporate or company identity can be used to contactairline network, or individual airlines configured to handle businesscontacts, for example, through airline API or by using NDC standards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an agent configuration for a product provideraccording to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration for a customer in obtaining pricesfrom a product provider according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate flow charts for assisting a customer to obtain agood price for a product from a product provider according to someembodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a process for a platform to assist customers inpurchasing products according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate flow charts for a platform to offer best pricesor best values to a customer according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart for a platform to offer best prices orbest values to a customer according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a process for a platform to assist customers inpurchasing products according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates flow charts for a platform to offer best prices orbest values to a customer according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate a configuration for a customer in obtainingprices from a product provider according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate a configuration of a travel distribution systemaccording to some embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-14B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments.

FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 17 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments.

FIGS. 18A-18B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 19 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments.

FIG. 20 illustrates a configuration for identity coupling according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 21 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments.

FIG. 22 illustrates a computing environment according to someembodiments.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computing environmentwith which the present invention can interact.

The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention forpurposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readilyrecognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments ofthe structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor negotiating with product providers to obtain good prices forproducts of the product provider. The methods can include telling theproduct providers about the best offers available on the market, andasking the product providers to at least match the best offers. Themethods can allow a customer to obtain best available prices for aproduct.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor a customer to obtain a product at a good price. The customer cansurvey prices of the same or similar products offered by agents, e.g.,sale agents, resale agents, and distributor agent, of a productprovider. Using the available prices of the products, the customer thencan negotiate with the product provider for a matching price.

Since the product prices offered by the agents are typically higher thanthe discount prices that the product provider agreed with the agents, amatched price can still be more profitable for the product provider.Further, a customer can recognize the product provider as the source ofbest price, thus can increase the name recognition of the product fromthe product provider. Further, since the customer deals directly withthe product provider, the product provider can obtain a large customerbase, with detail information about the customer.

The products can include a service, such as a tour or a travel package.The products can include a usage of an instrument or a facility, such asa hotel facility, a car rental agency, a cruise operation, or anairplane operation. The product providers can be an entity who performsthe service, such as a company running the tour or travel package. Theproduct providers can be an entity who operates the instruments offacilities, such as the hotel, the car rental, the cruise management, orthe flight operations.

The agents can be the sale agents, resale agents, or distributor agents,who are responsible for selling the products, without any manufacturinglinkage to the products.

FIG. 1 illustrates an agent configuration for a product provideraccording to some embodiments. A product provider 110 can maintain adirect sale channel 120, such as a website. The product provider 110 canemploy sale agents who can sell the product, such as agents #1 (130) andagent #2 (131). The product provider 110 can also employ resaledistributor, such as a Global Distribution System (GDS, like Sabre,Amadeus, Travelport, etc.) 140, who can employ resale agents, such asagent #3 (150) who can resell the product. In addition, there can beindependent companies 160, who resell the products from the agents,e.g., either from agent 130, from agent 131, or from agent 150.

The product provider 110 typically sells the product at a full price,e.g., 100% price. Thus, when a customer contacts the direct sale channel120, such as contacting the product provider through the website, thelisted price is normally the full price of the product. For example, theproduct provider can be a hotel management, e.g., a corporationoperating a chain of hotels or a company operating a hotel. The hotelcan have a website, which can allow a potential customer to search foravailable rooms and prices, and for making room reservations.

In addition to direct sale, the product provider can employ sale agentsand sale distributors, who in turn, employ resale agents. For example, ahotel management can use travel agencies as sale agents, e.g., a travelagency can sell rooms, e.g., getting a travel customer to book a room atthe hotel. The hotel management can use GDS (Global Distribution System)as a sale distributor. A travel agency can have an agreement with GDS toresell rooms for the hotel, thus acting as a resale agent for the hotel.Further, there can be independent companies 160 that contract with thesale or resale agents to resell the product.

The product provider can offer discount to the sale agents and saledistributors, so that they can make a profit while selling the productat a same price as the product provider. For example, the productprovider can provide a discount, such as 20% discount, to sale agents130, 131, and to sale distributor 140. Thus when the sale agents sellthe product, at 100% price, they can be profitable, e.g., at 20%.

The sale distributor 140 can employ resale agents, such as resale agent150, for reselling the product. The sale distributor can offer discountto the resale agent, for example, at 10% discount of the full price.

Typically, the product provider and the agents, sale agents and resaleagents, can sell the product at full price, e.g., at 100% price. Thus acustomer can shop at either the product provider or at the agents andstill get the same price.

To attract customers, some agents can sell the product at a reducedprice, e.g., at less than 100% price, and still can make a profit,provided that the reduced price is greater than the agency discount,e.g., greater than 80% of the full price for 20% agency discount. Forexample, some sale agents can offer the product at 90% or 85% price, andsome resale agents can offer the product at 95%. The lower price candirect customers away from the direct sale channel of the productprovider.

The product provider can offer discounts to customers to generate moresales. For example, the product provider can offer 10% discount for acertain time period. However, this discount strategy is not designed toaddress the discount strategy of the sale or resale agents. For example,the discount price of the product provider can be offered when the pricefrom agents is high (e.g., when the agents do not offer discount), orthe discount price of the product provider is still higher than thediscount price of the agents.

The product provider can monitor the offered prices from the agents, inorder to provide a match price, e.g., offering a price similar to thelowest price from the agents. However, this strategy can be ineffective,for example, since it can alienate the sale agents because the productprovider always offers a lower price than their price. Further, offeringa match price without a target customer can significantly affect therevenue of the product provider.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods to improvesales for a product provider. The methods can include offering matchprices for inquiring customers. For example, for a knowledgeablecustomer inquiry, e.g., a customer who would know the offering prices ofagents selling the same product, the product provider can accept matchprices to the customer.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods to assist acustomer in obtaining a best price for a product. The methods caninclude inquiring about the available prices of a product from varioussale and resale agents. After knowing the prices offered by the agents,an offer can be made to the product provider to achieve a match price.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration for a customer in obtaining pricesfrom a product provider according to some embodiments. A productprovider 210 can have a direct sale channel 220, together with saleagents 230, 231, and sale distributor 240, which can have resale agent250. In addition, independent company 260 can have agreements with theagents to resell the product. As shown, independent company 260 canre-sell the products from agent 231.

Different sale and resale agents can offer different prices for theproduct. For example, agent 230 can offer 90% price, agent 231 can offer85% price, agent 250 can offer 95% price, and independent company canoffer 90% price. These prices can be lower than the full 100% priceoffered from the direct sale channel 220 of the product provider.

A customer 280 can contact the agents to obtain the offered price of theproduct. The customer then can contact the product provider 210, forexample, through the direct sale channel 220, such as the website of theproduct provider. The customer can request a matching price, e.g.,asking the product provider to offer the product with a price equal to alowest price from the agents. For example, the customer can request thatthe product provider offers the product at 85% price, similar to theoffered price of agent 231.

It can be advantageous for both the product provider and the customer.The product provider can make a sale to the customer. The offered priceis less than the full price, but the product provider can still make aprofit. Further, the customer can still get the product at the askingprice, at least from the agent 231. The customer can obtain the productat a lowest price, directly at the product provider.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses an application thatcan assist a customer to obtain good price of products from the productprovider. After receiving a product request from a customer, theapplication can survey the product prices from different agents, andthen contact the product provider for matching the lowest price.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate flow charts for assisting a customer to obtain agood price for a product from a product provider according to someembodiments. The methods can include obtaining prices of a product fromvarious sale agents, e.g., from agencies responsible for selling theproduct. After obtaining the agency prices, the methods can includenegotiating with the product provider, e.g., with the entity responsiblefor managing the product, to obtain a good price. In FIG. 3A, operation300 contacts agents of a product provider to obtain a first price of aproduct.

The product can include services, such as guiding customers for a tour,a travel package, or a cruise trip, or usages of a facility, such asusing a hotel room, or usage of equipment, such as renting a car, orstaying on a cruise ship.

The product provider can include entities performing the services, suchas a tour management that operates the tour, e.g., supplying tour guidesand arranging transportation equipment and resting facility, or a cruisemanagement that operates the cruise ship, e.g., supplying the cruiseship and providing all services on the cruise ship. The product providercan include entities operating the facility, such as a hotel managementthat operates the hotel, e.g., maintaining the hotel ground, cleaningthe room, and supplying other amenities such as dining or conciergeservices. The product provider can include entities operating theequipment, such as a car rental management that operates the car rentalagency, e.g., maintaining the car rental parking lot and office,cleaning the cars, and supplying other amenities such as re-fuel orinsurance services.

The agents can include entities selling the product, such as a travelagent that books a hotel room, rents a car, arranges a tour or cruisetrip for customers. Thus an agent can be responsible only for sellingthe product, e.g., the services or usages of a facility or an equipment,while the product provider can be responsible for the product itself,such as operating, maintaining, or performing the services.

Operation 310 negotiates with the product provider to obtain a secondprice less than a full price from the product provider based on thefirst price.

In FIG. 3B, operation 330 provides a product provider, e.g., an entitysuch as a company that has some products available for the customer,wherein the product comprises a service or a usage of an instrument or afacility, wherein the product provider performs the service or operatesthe instrument or the facility, wherein the product provider directlysells the product, wherein the product provider also uses sale agentsfor selling the products. Operation 340 contacts the sale agents toobtain a first price of the product offered by the sale agents. If thefirst price offered by the sale agents is less than a second priceoffered by the product provider, operation 350 contacts the productprovider to obtain a third price from the product provider that is lessthan the second price.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor assisting a customer in obtaining a good price for a product. Themethods can include surveying prices of the products offered by saleagents and resale agents of a product provider, and then negotiatingwith the product provider for a matching price. The methods can improveoperations of the product provider, such as increasing name recognition,increasing customer base, and increasing revenue.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a platform, e.g., aprogram running on a data processing system, can be used to perform themethod. When customers contact the platform about the products, theplatform can offer the products directly from the product provider witha price matching the best available prices on the market. For example,the platform can direct the customers to the website of the productprovider, and the customers can purchase the products directly from theproduct provider, at a price already agreed with the platform.Alternatively, the platform can represent the product provider to sellthe products to the customers.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a process for a platform to assist customers inpurchasing products according to some embodiments. In FIG. 4A, aplatform 470 can contact agents 430, 431, 450, distributor 440, andindependent selling company 460 for getting prices of the products. Theagents can include re-sale agents 450, e.g., agents for selling theproducts from a distributor 440. As shown, agent 450 can sell theproducts for the distributor 440. Alternatively, the distributor 440 canemploy agents to sell, and can also sell the products. In that case, thedistributor 440 can be considered as an agent, in the context of thepresent specification, which is an entity functioned to sell products,without product manufacturing (e.g., selling a product and notmanufacturing the product), product servicing (e.g., an agent torepresent a car rental company to selling car rental accommodation andnot providing or servicing the cars, which actions are performed by thecar rental company), or product operating (e.g., selling tickets for airflights or cruises and not operating the flights or the cruises, orselling hotel accommodation and not operating the hotels).

The agents can include sale agents 430 and 431, who are the agents ofthe product provider 410 to sell products. The sale agents can includedistributor 440, who can also sell the products. For example, theproduct provider 410 can employ distributor 440 and sale agents 430 and431 for selling the products at a commission.

The agents can include re-sale agents 460, which can be an independentcompany having a contract with a sale agent, such as sale agent 431, tosell the products.

In FIG. 4B, the platform 470 can contact a product provider 410, or cancontact the direct sale channel 420 of the product provider forcompatible prices for the products. Knowing the offered prices of theproducts on the market, e.g., sold by the agents, the platform candetermine the best prices, e.g., cheapest prices for a base product, orbest value prices for products with added amenities. The platform candiscuss prices with the product provider, for example, to get theproduct provider to agree on compatible prices for the products.

The compatible price can be matched prices, e.g., the product providercan meet the cheapest price for a same or compatible product, or canmeet the best value prices for products with amenities. The productprovider can inform the platform that the product provider agrees thatthe prices for the products, either base products or products withoptions, can be the same or similar as the prices offered by agents.Thus when customers contact the platform, the platform can offer thematched prices for the products. The matched prices can be the same, orslightly higher or slightly lower than the prices offered by the agents.The slightly difference should be small enough so that the customerswould not care, such as less than 1% of the total price.

The compatible price can be a higher price but for better values. Forexample, the product can be the same, but the base price for the productoffered by the product provider can be higher than the price offered bythe agents. The product provider can offset the high price with addedamenities, e.g., free add-on bonus for the product.

In some embodiments, the product provider can offer more than just theproduct price, such as bonus offers or discount offers for amenities oroptions for the products. The platform can receive packaged offers fromthe product provider, and can select which offers to be offered to thecustomers, for example, based on a profile of the customers. Forexample, if a customer preference indicates a desire for early check inor airport lounge, the platform can present the offers together with theproduct, which can allow the product provider to increase sale.

For example, the product can be an air flight, e.g., offering tickets onan airplane for traveling between two locations. The product providercan be an airline, which can provide and service the airplane andoperate counters at the airport for check in, together with otherservices such as baggage handling, on-flight entertainment and dining,and airport lounge. For the air flight product, the sale and re-saleagents can be GDS or travel agencies, who can make the air travelreservation for customers.

The product provider, e.g., the airline company, can offer compatibleairfares as the agents, such as matching the prices or slightly lower orhigher. The airline can also offer better value for the air flight, ascompared to the cheapest airfares from agents. For example, the airfareoffered by the airline can be higher than the cheapest airfare, but theairline can also offer free bonus, such as free early check in, freeairport lounge, or free wifi on board. Thus, even though the airfare canbe higher, the additional values based on the offers can provide abetter value for the customers.

In some embodiments, the product providers can offer offerings, such asbonus offerings, discount offerings, or regular offerings, on theproducts. For example, an airline can offer free wifi, early check in,additional luggage, airport lounge access, and additional frequent flyerpoints. The total costs of the flights are the same, but the totalvalues of the flights can increase significantly, due to the added freeofferings from the airlines. Alternatively, the airline can offer theseofferings, e.g., wifi, early check in, additional luggage, airportlounge access, and additional frequent flyer points, at a discount or ata regular price.

In some embodiments, the product providers can offer bonus offerings ordiscount offerings for promotion purposes. For example, in low saleseason, the bonus offerings or discount offerings can entice thecustomers to select the products. The bonus offerings or discountofferings can be used to introduce a new service, for example, providingwifi during a flight, a three for two program in which buying twotickets can get the customer a free third ticket, or extra leg roomseats, e.g., seating in an economy plus class, in which the front andback seats are spaced further apart than seating in an economy class.The bonus offerings or discount offerings can serve to validate newservices, for example, to see how the customers respond to the ideas.The values of the bonus offerings or discount offerings can change, forexample, depending on the sale seasons. For example, in high saleseasons, there can be minimum offerings, and in low sale seasons, therecan be more offerings.

The bonus offerings or discount offerings can increase a customerloyalty, similar to a frequent flyer program. For example, a customercan sign up with a hotel or an airline for offering programs, and thehotel or the airline can offer bonus offerings or discount offeringswhen the customer selects a room with the hotel or a flight with theairline.

The offerings can include bonus offerings, which can be characterized aszero offered price, and a saving amount equaled to the regular price.For airline provider, the bonus offerings include free wifi, and freelounge access.

The offerings can include discount offerings, which can be characterizedas having an offered price less than a regular price. For airlineprovider, the discount offerings include discounted early boarding, anddiscounted additional luggage.

The offerings can include regular offerings, which can be characterizedas having an offered price similar to a regular price. For airlineprovider, the regular offerings include bonus frequent flyer points,seat upgrade (e.g., from economy seat to economy plus seat with largerseat and extra leg room), and business class upgrade. This is an exampleof the offerings. Other services can be offered as offerings, e.g., theplatform can be used to present merchandises, as a bonus, as a discount,or as a regular service or product to the customer.

There can be a selection of the offerings. For example, when thecustomer places a mark on the select box, the customer agrees to buy theoffered service at the offered price. For example, marks can be made forthe bonus offerings of free wifi and free lounge access, which do notchange the total cost of the products. The customer can de-select thebonus offerings. As default, there is no mark on the discount andregular offerings. If the customer is interested in any of theofferings, the customer can mark the selection, and the total cost andthe total saving can be calculated accordingly.

The offerings can be based on a customer profile, e.g., the offeringscan be tailored to the customer preferences. For example, a lighttraveling customer would prefer other offerings over an early check-inoffering, since there can be minimum advantages for the light travelingcustomer to check in early.

In some embodiments, the offerings can be negotiated. For example, theproduct providers can provide offerings to the customers, and thecustomers can discuss about changing the offerings to better suit theirpreferences. The customers can propose new offerings to the productproviders. The offerings can be custom offerings, e.g., the productproviders can offer a bonus value, together with a list of offerings andprices. The customers can select offerings up to the bonus value.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a platform for theproduct providers to offer merchandises to customers. The platform canaccept requests from customers for a product, and then provide thecustomers with bonus offerings from the product providers, together withinformation about the product. The offerings can be dynamic offerings,in which the offerings can be changed based on the sale seasons, basedon the customer profile, or can be custom, e.g., selectable by thecustomer. The platform can also suggest or make recommendation for oneor more products, based on a profile of the customers.

In some embodiments, the platform can make an agreement with the productprovider to sell the products at compatible prices. For example, theproduct provider can agree to match the cheapest prices offered by theagents. The product provider can insist on higher prices, but can offerfree bonus for a better value purchase.

In some embodiments, the agreement between the product provider and theplatform can be for a time period, such as one day, few days, one week,two weeks, or one month. Thus after the platform surveys the agentprices, and reports the prices to the product provider, the productprovider can agree with the platform for compatible prices for theproducts, valid for an agreeable period. The platform can continuesurveying the agent prices. If the prices do not change, the platformcan contact the product provider to extend the agreeable period. If theprices change, the platform can contact the product provider for a newprice agreement.

In some embodiments, the new price agreement can occur after theexpiration of the previous agreement. The new price agreement can alsooccur, e.g., the platform can contact the product provider for newprices, at any time, for example, when the agent prices change. Forexample, one day after the price agreement with the product provider,the platform can know that the agent prices change, either higher orlower, and the platform can contact the product provider to make newprice agreement for new compatible prices, either higher or lower thanin the previous price agreement, depending on the new agent prices.

The product provider 410 can be the one who employs the sale agents 430,431, 450, 440, and 460. The product provider 410 can be the provider ofthe product, and can also perform a direct sale of the product.

The product can be a car rental, e.g., offering cars for people to rent.The product provider can be a car rental company, which can provide andservice the cars and operate spaces for people who come to get andreturn the cars. For the car rental product, the sale and re-sale agentscan be sale entities, such as travel agencies, who can make thereservation for customers, such as for a car at a location for aduration.

The product can be a hotel accommodation, e.g., offering rooms in ahotel, which includes any place offering short term or long termstaying. The product provider can be a hotel management company, whichcan provide, operate and service the rooms in the hotel. For the hotelproduct, the sale and re-sale agents can be sale entities, such astravel agencies, who can make the reservation for customers, such as fora room at a hotel for a duration.

The product can be a cruise, e.g., offering rooms in a ship that travelsfrom places to places. The product provider can be a cruise managementcompany, which can provide, operate and service the rooms in the shipand the ship. For the cruise product, the sale and re-sale agents can besale entities, such as travel agencies, who can make the reservation forcustomers, such as for a room in a cruise from a location to a location.

In FIG. 4C, customers 480, 481, and 482 can contact the platform 470 forinquiry about products, such as asking for a flight itinerary, a cruise,a car rental, or a hotel stay. The platform can offer best prices orbest values for the products, from the product provider.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate flow charts for a platform to offer best pricesor best values to a customer according to some embodiments. In FIG. 5A,operation 500 provides that a platform surveys product prices fromagents. Operation 510 provides that the platform contacts productprovider for matching price. Operation 520 provides that the platformwaits for customers to ask about products.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a method, which canbe a machine implemented method, e.g., operated and run by a dataprocessing system. The method can include determining, by a platform, alowest price among the offered prices of a product selling by agents.The platform can then negotiate with a provider of the product to obtaina matched price. The matched price can be compatible with the lowestprice. The matched price can be offered to customers when the customerscontact the platform about the product.

The products can include services or operations operated or serviced bythe product provider. The products can include services or operationssold by the agents and by the product provider. The products can includerenting a car, getting a hotel room, buying a cruise, or buying an airflight. The product providers can include a company renting cars, acompany managed a hotel, a company operating a cruise, or an airlineoperating air flights. The agents can include selling agent, re-saleagents, or distributor agents.

The matched price can be lower or the same as the lowest price. Thematched price can be similar to the lowest price. The matched pricedoffered by the product provider can be for the same product offered bythe agents. The matched priced offered by the product provider can befor a compatible product. The matched priced offered by the productprovider includes free amenities from the product provider.

In some embodiments, the method can further include that the platformcontacts the agents to collect the prices offered by the agents for theproducts. The collected prices can be used to determine the lowestprice, for example, by sorting the collected prices.

The platform can obtain the product prices from the agents by thepublished prices, e.g., by the prices that the agents publish oradvertise. For example, the prices can be posted on the websites of theagents. Alternatively, the platform can sign up with the agents toobtain prices that are not in the public domain. For example, someagents can prefer that a customer calls or contact them for prices andavailability. The platform can establish an account with the agents,using an identification of the platform, e.g., a corporate or a companyidentification.

In some embodiments, the lowest price can be the highest value for theproducts, e.g., the lowest price can be a result of an evaluation of thevalue of the product and the lowest price can represent a best value,and not necessarily the lowest monetary cost. For example, a highairfare for a reputable and safe airline can have better value than aslightly lower airfare from an airline having a much worse safetyrecord.

The method can further include offering the matched price to a customerwhen the customer contacts the platform about the product. The platformthen can direct the customer to the product provider when the customeraccepts the offering of the matched price, such as transferring thecustomer to the website of the product provider. Alternatively, theplatform can represent the product provider to sell the product to thecustomer when the customer accepts the offering of the matched price.

In some embodiments, the method can further include contacting theagents using an identification of the customer. When a customer contactsthe platform about the product, the customer can provide hisidentification, for example, by signing in with the platform. Thecustomer can open an account, e.g., providing his personal informationto the platform. Thus by signing in, the platform can have theidentification of the customer. The platform then can contact the agentsusing the identification of the customer, to obtain product prices.

The customer identification can result in a lower price as compared toprices available to the public. For example, the customer can have apreferred status with the agents, so that the agents can offer betterprices to the customer.

If the prices obtained by the customer identification are higher or thesame as the matched price from the product provider, the platform canoffer the matched price to the customer, knowing that the matched pricecan be the best available price for the product.

If the prices obtained by the customer identification are lower than thematched price, example, due to a special status of the customer, theplatform can contact the product provider with the new prices, e.g., theprices obtained by using the customer identification, and ask for a newmatched price. Once the new matched price is obtained, the platform canoffer the new matched price to the customer. Alternatively, if a newmatched price is not obtained, for example, by the product providerinability to match the new prices, the platform can show the prices fromagents, the old matched price (e.g., which matches the old agent prices,but is higher than the agent prices using the customer identification),and/or all prices from agents and from the product provider. Thecustomer can make a decision to buy from the agents or from the productprovider. For example, if the customer decides on the lower prices fromthe agents, the platform can direct the customer to the agent websites,and sign in with the customer identification to show the low prices.

In some embodiments, the platform can skip the step of contacting theproduct provider for a new matched price, for example, since the productprovider can indicate that there can be no further reduction in prices.The platform can show the prices from agents, the old matched price,and/or all prices from agents and from the product provider. Thecustomer can make a decision to buy from the agents or from the productprovider. For example, if the customer decides to buy from the productprovider, the platform can direct the customer to the website of theproduct provider.

In FIG. 5B, operation 540 provides that a customer contacts platform forbest prices of a product. The platform can advertise as a place thatoffers best value and best prices for products. Thus customers, whenlooking for a product, can contact the platform.

In some embodiments, the customers can establish accounts with theplatform, for example, to offer personal data and preferences, so thatthe platform can tailor the products and product options to suit thecustomers.

Operation 550 provides that a platform shows matching price from productprovider to customer. The matching price can be compatible with thelowest or best prices from the agents. The matching price can beobtained by the platform surveying the agent prices, and then contactingthe product provider for an agreement of matching prices.

Operation 560 provides that a customer agrees to buy. Operation 570provides that a platform directs customer to product provider orrepresents product provider to sell to customer.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart for a platform to offer best prices orbest values to a customer according to some embodiments. The method caninclude using a corporate identity to make an agreement with productproviders for price matching. The corporate identity can also be usedfor getting agent prices, e.g., for prices that are available to thepublic. The method can further include using a personal identity, e.g.,the identity of the customer, to contact agents for prices that can bebetter than the prices for the public.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses using a dualidentities for getting best prices for customers. A personal identitycan be used for contact agents, and a corporate identity can be used tocontact the product providers.

Operation 600 provides that a customer contacts platform for best pricesof a product. Operation 610 provides that a platform surveys additionalprices using customer identification. The platform can already surveyprevious prices from agents using the platform identification, or byusing an anonymous identification. The platform can have an agreementwith the product providers for matching prices with the best availableprices if not using a personal identification.

Operation 620 provides that, if the additional prices are higher orequal to the previous prices, then the platform shows the matching priceto the customer. And when the customer agrees to buy, the platform candirect the customer to the product provider or can represent the productprovider to sell to the customer.

Operation 630 provides that, if the additional prices are lower than theprevious prices, then the platform can show the customer the agent withthe lowest price. Optionally, the platform can show offers from theproduct provider, e.g., together with the lowest prices from agents. Theoffers from the product provider can show better values, such as bonusor discount offerings, so that the customer can be enticed to go withthe product provider. If the customer decides on the lowest prices, thenthe platform can direct the customer to the agent with the lowestprices.

Alternatively, the platform contacts product provider for new matchingprice for the additional lower price. If the product provider agrees toa new matching price, the platform can present the new matching price tocustomer. If the product provider does not agree to a new matchingprice, the platform can show the customer the agent with the lowestprice. Offers from the product provider can be included. Depending onthe customer selection, the platform can direct the customer to theagent with the lowest price or direct the customer to the productprovider.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a method forproviding a customer with best prices. The method can include receivingan inquiry from a customer about a product; offering a first price forthe product to the customer, wherein the product is provided from aproduct provider, wherein the first price is compatible with a lowestprice for the product among second prices selling by agents; directingthe customer to the product provider when the customer accepts theprice.

In some embodiments, the method can further include contacting theagents to collect the second prices for determining the lowest price.The method can also include determining the lowest price among secondprices of the product selling by agents; and negotiating with a providerof the product to obtain the first price.

In some embodiments, the product comprises services or operationsoperated or serviced by the product provider. The product comprisesservices or operations sold by the agents and by the product provider.The product comprises renting a car, getting a hotel room, buying acruise, or buying an air flight. The product provider comprises acompany renting cars, a company managed a hotel, a company operating acruise, or an airline operating air flights. The agents comprise sellingagent, re-sale agents, or distributor agents. The first price is loweror the same as the lowest price. The first price is similar to thelowest price. The first priced is for the same product offered by theagents. The first priced is for a compatible product.

In some embodiments, the method can further include contacting theagents, by the platform using identification of the customer, to obtainthird prices using the identification of the customer. If the thirdprices are higher or the same as the first price, offering the firstprice to the customer. The method can also include contacting theagents, by the platform using identification of the customer, to obtainthird prices using the identification of the customer. If one of thethird prices is lower than the first price, contacting the productprovider for a new price. The platform can offer the new price to thecustomer. The method can also include contacting the agents, by theplatform using identification of the customer, to obtain third pricesusing the identification of the customer. If one of the third prices islower than the first price, the platform can direct the customer to theagent with the lowest third price. The method can also includecontacting the agents, by the platform using identification of thecustomer, to obtain third prices using the identification of thecustomer. If one of the third prices is lower than the first price,contacting the product provider for a new price. The platform can directthe customer to the agent with the lowest third price.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor assisting a customer in obtaining a good price for a product. Themethods can include surveying prices of the products offered by saleagents and resale agents of a product provider, and when a customer asksfor a product, contacting a product provider for a matching price to alowest price offered by the agents.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a platform, e.g., aprogram running on a data processing system, can be used to perform themethod. When customers contact the platform about the products, theplatform can survey the prices from different agents, and then negotiatewith the product providers for matching prices. The platform then canoffer the products to the customers, directly from the product providerwith a price matching the best available prices on the market. Forexample, the platform can direct the customers to the website of theproduct provider for direct purchases. The platform can also representthe product provider to sell the products to the customers.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a process for a platform to assist customers inpurchasing products according to some embodiments. In FIG. 7A, acustomer 780 can contact a platform 770, for example, to inquire about aproduct. In FIG. 7B, the platform 770 can contact agents 730, 731, 750,distributor 740, and independent selling company 760 for getting pricesof the product. The agents can include re-sale agents 750, distributor740, sale agents 730 and 731, and re-sale agents 760. As shown, thecustomer contacts the platform before the platform asking the productprovider. Alternatively, the platform can contact the product providerbefore the customer contacting the platform.

In FIG. 7C, the platform 770 can contact a product provider 710, or cancontact the direct sale channel 720 of the product provider forcompatible prices for the products. The platform can discuss prices withthe product provider, for example, to get the product provider to agreeon a compatible price for the product, e.g., a price matching the lowestoffered price from the agents. The platform then can offer thecompatible price from the product provider to the customer.

If the platform cannot match the agent prices, e.g., the price from anagent can be too low, then the platform can show the customer the lowprice from the agent. This can allow the customer to know the lowestprice for the product. The platform can also show information from theproduct provider, for example, bonus offerings and such, to entice thecustomer to buy the product from the product provider.

FIG. 8 illustrates flow charts for a platform to offer best prices orbest values to a customer according to some embodiments. Operation 800provides that a platform surveys product prices from agents. Operation810 provides that a customer contacts platform for best prices of aproduct. Operation 820 provides that the platform contacts productprovider for matching price. Operation 830 provides that the platformshows the matching price from the product provider to the customer.Operation 840 provides that the customer agrees to buy. Operation 850provides that the platform directs customer to product provider orrepresents product provider to sell to customer. Operation 860 providesthat the platform directs the customer to the agent with the lowestprice if the product provider does not match the prices.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a method that caninclude receiving an inquiry from a customer about a product;determining a lowest price among the offered prices of a product sellingby agents; negotiating with a provider of the product to obtain amatched price, wherein the matched price is compatible with the lowestprice; offering the matched price to the customer after obtaining thematched price.

In some embodiments, determining the lowest price can be performedbefore or after receiving the inquiry. The platform can survey theprices of the products from the agents, and use the surveyed prices todetermine the lowest price, before any contact from customers.Alternatively, the customer can contact the platform about a product,and then the platform can survey offered prices from agents for theproduct that the customer inquired. The platform can determine thelowest price of products, in order to negotiate with the productproviders. The platform can negotiate with the product providers usingan identification of the platform, e.g., as a corporate entity or acompany.

In some embodiments, the platform can contact the agents in the publicdomain, using an identification of the platform, e.g., as a corporateentity or a company, or using an identification of the customer. Forexample, the platform can search for the prices in the websites of theagents, e.g., the prices are published by the agents for potentialcustomers. The platform can use the corporate identity, e.g., theidentification of the platform, to contact the agents for prices, e.g.,for products that the agents do not publish and/or for products that theagents require the potential customers to contact the agents beforereceiving the prices. The platform can use the customer identity, e.g.,after the customer contacts the platform and provides hisidentification, to contact the agents for prices, e.g., for specialprices for customers with special status such as preferred customers.

In some embodiments, the method can further include directing thecustomer to the product provider when the customer accepts the offeringof the matched price. Alternatively, the platform can represent theproduct provider to sell the product to the customer when the customeraccepts the offering of the matched price.

In some embodiments, the method can further include directing thecustomer to the one with lowest prices. For example, if the productprovider cannot match the agent prices, then the platform can direct thecustomer to the agent with the lowest price. If the product providermatches the prices, then the platform can direct the customer to theproduct provider.

In some embodiments, the method can further include providing options,e.g., add-on, to the products. For example, the product provider canoffer options, e.g., offerings such as bonus offerings, discountofferings, or regular offerings, in addition to the product price. Theproduct provider can offer bonus offerings, which can raise the value ofthe product. For example, in the case that the product provider cannotmatch the agent prices, the product provider can provide bonus offeringsso that the total value of the product offered by the product providercan be higher, even though the total cost is higher than those of theagents. The product provider can offer discount and/or regularofferings. The discount and/or regular offerings can be based on thecustomer preferences, so the customer can be likely to purchase theseofferings.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses using multipleidentities in methods for assisting a customer in obtaining a good pricefor a product. For example, a personal or individual identity can beused to obtain the prices of the product from the agents. A corporate orcompany identity can be used to negotiating the price with the productprovider.

The present invention recognizes that the agents can prefer dealingdirectly with the customers, so a personal or individual identity can beused for contacting the agents. Since the contacting is on behalf of thecustomer looking to buy the product, it can be proper to use thecustomer identity in contacting the agents.

The present invention recognizes that the product provider can preferdealing with a corporation, so a company or a corporation identity, or apersonal identity if preferred by the product provider, can be used forcontacting the product provider. A corporate identity can be used torepresent multiple customers that are interested in obtaining goodprices from the product provider.

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate a configuration for a customer in obtainingprices from a product provider according to some embodiments. In FIG.9A, a product provider 910 can have a direct sale channel 920, togetherwith sale agents 930, 931, and sale distributor 940, which can haveresale agent 950. In addition, independent company 960 can haveagreements with the agents to resale the product.

A user 980 can use an individual or personal identity 981 to contact theagents, and use a platform identity 982, e.g., a company or acorporation identity, representing multiple individuals, to contact theproduct provider, for example, through the direct sale channel 920 ofthe product provider.

FIG. 9B shows a flow chart for assisting a customer in obtaining a goodprice for a product from a product provider according to someembodiments. Operation 990 contacts agents of a product provider, usingan individual identity, to obtain a first price of a product. Operation991 negotiates with the product provider, using a company identity, toobtain a discount price from the product provider, wherein the discountprice is less than a full price of the product, wherein the discountprice is lesser, greater or equal to the first price.

In dome embodiments, the present invention discloses using differentidentities for contacting different entities. The method can includeusing dual identities to contact different airline entities forobtaining flight itineraries. The dual identities can include a personalidentity and a corporate identity. The different airline entities caninclude individual airlines and a network of airlines. For example,individual airlines can be contacted using the personal identity. Theairline network can be contacted using the corporate identity.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor coupling multiple identities for contacting agents and productproviders. The multiple identities can include a company identity, whichcan be the identity of a company running an operation for assisting thecustomers in obtaining good prices for the products. A platform, such asa server, can be used to represent the company, e.g., multipleindividual customers can allow the platform to represent them incontacting the product provider.

The multiple identities can include individual identities, which can bethe identities of the customers. A user account can be used to representa customer. For example, a customer can log in the platform accountusing the user account, e.g., using the customer individual identity,and then using the user account to contact the agents. The customer cancontact the agents, or the platform can contact the agents, using thecustomer information.

In some embodiments, a customer can contact the agents, and can use acompany to contact the product provider.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. A customer can directly contact agents forsurveying prices of a product. The customer then contacts a company,providing the product price information to the company. The company thencan contact the provider of the product, to negotiate a price of theproduct for the customer, such as a matching price for the lowest pricefrom the agents. The company can report the result to the customer.

In FIG. 10A, a user 1080 can use an individual identity 1081, such asthe name and address of the user, to contact the agents of a product.For example, the user can call one or more travel agencies or submit aform at the travel agency websites for reserving a hotel room at ahotel. The user 1080 then can contact a platform 1085, such as a serverspecializing in assisting customers for achieving good product prices.The user can supply the price information obtained from the agents tothe platform. The platform can use a company identity, such as thecorporation identity of the server, to contact the product provider fornegotiating a good price for the customer. For example, the platform candisclose the profile of the customer to the supplier in negotiating abetter price.

An advantage of using a company identity is that the company cannegotiate a prior agreement with the product provider, thus afterreceiving the price information from the customer, the company cansurely obtain the same price of the product from the product provider.The prior agreement can include an agreement that the product providercan match agent prices for customers that the company can introduce tothe product provider. The product provider can also obtain customerinformation, for example, to add to the database of the productprovider.

FIG. 10B shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 1090 contacts agents, by a user, through anindividual identity of the user. Operation 1091 contacts a platform bythe user. Operation 1092 contacts a provider, by the platform, through acompany identity of the platform.

In some embodiments, a customer can use a company to contact both theagents and the product provider.

FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. A customer can contact a company, expressing thedesire to purchase a product. The company then can contact agents, usingthe customer identity, for surveying prices of a product. The companythen can contact the provider of the product, to negotiate a price ofthe product for the customer, such as a matching price for the lowestprice from the agents. The company can report the result to thecustomer. The platform can include a application, e.g., a program, in adata processing system, such as a server or a mobile phone.

For example, a customer can log in to a platform with hisidentification, and then request a product. The platform can use theidentification of the customer to obtain agent prices, and use theplatform identification, e.g., a company responsible for maintaining theplatform, to obtain good prices from the product provider.

In FIG. 11A, a user 1180 can contact a platform 1185, such as a serverspecializing in assisting customers for achieving good product prices.The user can provide his identification and a product purchase requestto the platform. The platform can use the customer identity 1181, suchas the name of the customer, to contact the agents of a product. Forexample, the platform can call one or more travel agencies or submit aform at the travel agency web sites for reserving a hotel room at ahotel. After receiving the agent prices, the platform can use a companyidentity, such as the corporation identity of the server, to contact theproduct provider for negotiating a good price for the customer.

FIG. 11B shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 1190 contacts a platform by the user. Operation1191 contacts agents, by the platform, using an individual identity ofthe user. Operation 1192 contacts a provider, by the platform, using acompany identity of the platform. The platform can also use theindividual identity of the user, for example, by showing that theplatform represents the user in dealing with the provider.

In some embodiments, a customer can contact both the agents and theproduct provider through the customer account. The customer can use hisidentification for the agent prices, and use the company identificationfor the product provider price.

FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. A customer can contact a company for assisting inobtaining a good price for a product. The customer then can contactagents, using the customer identity, for surveying prices of a product.The customer then can contact the provider of the product, using thecompany identity, and optionally with the customer identity, tonegotiate a price of the product for the customer, such as a matchingprice for the lowest price from the agents.

In some embodiments, the company can have prior agreement with theproduct provider. Thus the customer can use his own identity to contactagents for agent prices, and can submit the agent prices to the productprovider, with reference to the company, to obtain the matching pricefrom the product provider.

For example, a customer can use his personal identification to obtainagent prices. The customer then can log in to a platform to send theagent prices to the product provider to obtain a match price. Since therequest include both the customer and the platform information, theproduct provider can use the platform information to check for theagreement with the platform, and use the customer information to providethe product to the customer.

In FIG. 12A, a user 1280 can use an individual identity 1281, such asthe name and address of the user, to contact the agents of a product.The user 1280 then can use a company identity 1282 to contact theproduct provider for obtaining a good price for the product. The companyidentity can be from a platform 1285, that the user has contact with.

FIG. 12B shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 1290 contacts a platform by the user. Operation1291 contacts agents, by the user, using an individual identity of theuser. Operation 1292 contacts a provider, by the user, using a companyidentity of the platform.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses using multipleidentities in a travel distribution system that can assist a customer insearching for airline itineraries. For example, a personal or individualidentity can be used to obtain airline itineraries from airlines usingthe internet as direct sale channel, such as using websites or API(application program interface) protocols. A corporate or companyidentity can be used to obtain airline itineraries from airlines usingNDC protocols, or airlines participating in GDS system, or airlinesusing API protocols.

The present invention recognizes that some low cost airlines can preferdealing directly with the customers through the internet, for example,using their websites. So a personal or individual identity can be usedfor contacting these airlines.

The present invention recognizes that some airlines can prefer dealingwith a corporation, for example, airlines using NDC protocols, orairlines participating in GDS system. So a company or a corporationidentity can be used for contacting these airlines.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a traveldistribution system that allows coupling to multiple airlines, forexample, to traditional airlines and to low cost airlines. The couplingof the travel distribution system to multiple airlines can allow thecomparison between airlines, so that consumers can choose a travelpackage that most suits their needs.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a traveldistribution system which can include a platform for communicating withairlines through NDC protocols, through a GDS system, and through APIprotocols. The travel distribution system can communicate with airlinesthrough the internet.

FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate a configuration of a travel distribution systemaccording to some embodiments. A travel distribution system 1300 caninclude a platform 1310, which can communicate 1312 with differentairlines through the NDC protocols. The platform 1310 can be configuredto communicate 1313 with a GDS system. The platform 1310 can beconfigured to communicate 1311 with airlines through the airline API. Aninquirer 1340 can go 1341 through the platform 1310 to get informationfrom airlines, e.g., airlines using NDC protocols, airlinesparticipating in GDS system, and airlines having API protocols.

In addition, the travel distribution system 1300 can provide theinquirer with access to airlines through the airline websites, forexample, through an internet connection 1342. Certain airlines offerservices through their websites, without being accessible through NDCprotocols, GDS system, and/or API information. The travel distributionservice 1300 can also provide the inquirer with access to theseairlines.

FIG. 13B shows a flow chart for searching for airline itinerariesaccording to some embodiments. Operation 1390 contacts first airlines,using an individual identity, to obtain flight information from thefirst airlines. Operation 1391 contacts second airlines, using a companyidentity, to obtain flight information from the second airlines.Operation 1392 processes flight information from the first and secondairlines.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and systemsfor coupling multiple identities when searching for airline itineraries.The multiple identities can include a company identity, which can be theidentity of a company running an operation for assisting the customersin searching for airline itineraries. A platform, such as a server, canbe used to represent the company, e.g., multiple individual customerscan allow the platform to represent them in contacting the airlines.

The multiple identities can include individual identities, which can bethe identities of the customers. A user account can be used to representa customer. For example, a customer can log in the platform accountusing the user account, e.g., using the customer individual identity,and then using the user account to contact the airlines. The customercan contact the airlines, or the platform can contact the airlines,using the customer information.

In some embodiments, a number of airlines can participate in a system,such as a GDS system, or can be accessed using protocol standards, suchas NDC standards or API standards. These airlines can be contacted usinga corporation identity. For example, accessing a GDS system, forcontacting airlines that participate in the GDS system, can only beprovided to companies that have applied and achieved permission toaccess the GDS system. Contacting airlines using NDC protocols cannormally be performed by companies that can prepare a platform havingNDC protocol communication. Thus, a company identity can be used toaccess these airlines.

In some embodiments, a number of airlines do not want to participate ina system, such as low cost airlines, which prefer to interact withindividual customers, for example, to reduce the overhead costassociated with the system. These airlines can be contacted using apersonal identity, for example, by using a mobile device to contact theairline websites through a browser.

FIGS. 14A-14B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. The customer can query a company platform, forexample, through a platform IO, for information of airlines, such asairlines participating in GDS system, or airlines using NDC protocols. Acustomer can directly contact other airlines, for example, contacting anairline website through a browser. The airline information can passthrough the platform for consolidation before reporting to the customer.

In FIG. 14A, a user equipment 1480, such as a computer or a mobilephone, can include a platform IO 1420 for contacting 1481 a platform1410. The platform can represent a company, and can be connected to aGDS system, which can have accesses to airlines that participate in theGDS system. The platform can be configured to have NDC protocolcommunication, thus can have accesses to airlines using the NDCprotocols. The platform can be configured to have API protocolcommunication, thus can have accesses to airlines using the APIprotocols. The user equipment 1480 can include a browser application1430 for contacting 1482 individual airlines, e.g., through the airlinewebsites. Thus the user equipment 1480 can be configured to accessairlines using an individual identity, e.g., when contacting airlinesthrough the browser. The user equipment 1480 can be configured to accessairlines using a corporate identity, e.g., when contacting airlinesthrough the platform.

In FIG. 14B, a user can contact 1 a browser 1430 and a platform IO 1420for connecting to a platform 1410. Through the browser, the user canaccess information from airlines #2. The platform can access informationfrom airlines #3. Data from the browser can pass 2 through the user backto the platform, thus the platform can consolidate information fromairlines #2 and #3, e.g., airline information that were collected by theuser and by the platform.

In some embodiments, the airline information can be passed from theplatform to the user for consolidation. Thus all collected airlineinformation can be sent to the user, both from the browser and from theplatform.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 1500 contacts first airlines by a platform, usinga company identity, to obtain flight information of the first airlines.Operation 1510 contacts second airlines through a browser, using anindividual identity, to obtain flight information of the secondairlines. Operation 1520 sends flight information of the second airlinesto the platform. Operation 1530 processes flight information of thefirst and second airlines by the platform.

FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. The customer can query a company platform, forexample, through a platform IO, for information of airlines, such asairlines participating in GDS system, or airlines using NDC protocols. Acustomer can directly contact other airlines, for example, contacting anairline through the airline application. The airline information canpass through the platform for consolidation before reporting to thecustomer.

In FIG. 16A, a user equipment 1680, such as a computer or a mobilephone, can include a platform IO 1620 for contacting 1681 a platform1610. The user equipment 1680 can include one or more airlineapplications 1640 for contacting 1682 individual airlines, e.g., throughthe airline applications. The airline applications already have the useridentification, thus using the airline applications can be similar touse a browser to access airline websites, together with providing alluser credentials to the airlines. Multiple airline applications can beused, with each airline application specific to an airline. Thus theuser equipment 1680 can be configured to access airlines using anindividual identity, e.g., when contacting airlines through the airlineapplication. The user equipment 1680 can be configured to accessairlines using a corporate identity, e.g., when contacting airlinesthrough the platform.

In FIG. 16B, a user can contact 1 one or more airlines throughcorresponded airline applications 1641/1642. The user can contact aplatform IO 1620 for connecting to a platform 1610. Through the airlineapplications, the user can access information from airlines #1A and #1B.The platform can access information from airlines #3. Data from theairline applications can pass 2 through the user back to the platform,thus the platform can consolidate information from airlines #1A, #1B and#3, e.g., airline information that were collected by the user and by theplatform.

In some embodiments, the airline information can be passed from theplatform to the user for consolidation. Thus all collected airlineinformation can be sent to the user, both from the airline applicationsand from the platform.

FIG. 17 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments.

Operation 1700 contacts first airlines by a platform, using a companyidentity, to obtain flight information of the first airlines. Operation1710 contacts second airlines through applications of the secondairlines, using an individual identity, to obtain flight information ofthe second airlines. Operation 1720 sends flight information of thefirst airlines (in the chart it says second airlines) to the platform.Operation 1730 processes flight information of the first and secondairlines by the platform.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods of couplingidentities, using a corporate identity to access an airline application.The methods can use two identities for accessing two different types ofairlines. A corporate identity can be used to access a first type, whichincludes airlines participating in GDS system and airlines incorporatingNDC protocols. An individual identity can be used to access a secondtype of airlines, which includes airlines not participating in GDSsystem and not incorporating NDC protocols, including low cost airlinesthat manage their own sale distribution systems, such as having websitesand applications in customer mobile devices.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods to use acorporate platform for accessing both types of airlines. The platformcan use the corporate identity to access airlines participating in GDSsystem and airlines incorporating NDC protocols. For example, theplatform can include a corporation identification, so can access theseairlines using this identification.

The platform can use a customer identity to access airlines notparticipating in GDS system and not incorporating NDC protocols. Forexample, a customer can sign in to the platform, implicitly orexplicitly allowing the platform to represent him in contacting theairlines. The platform then can take over, e.g., using the customeridentity, to contact the airlines that prefer to deal with theindividual customers. In the case of a browser, the platform can startthe browser, and use the customer identification and preferences toaccess the websites of the airlines. In the case of airlineapplications, the platform can run the applications, representing thecustomer when contacting the airlines.

FIGS. 18A-18B illustrate a configuration for identity coupling accordingto some embodiments. The customer can contact a company platform, forexample, through a platform IO, for airline information. The platformcan access airline information through the airline application, usingthe user identity.

In FIG. 18A, a user equipment 1880, such as a computer or a mobilephone, can include a platform IO 1820 for contacting 1881 a platform1810. The user equipment 1880 can include a browser for contactingairline websites. The user equipment 1880 can include one or moreairline applications 1840 for contacting 1882 individual airlines, e.g.,through the airline applications. The airline applications already havethe user identification, thus using the airline applications can besimilar to use a browser to access airline websites, together withproviding all user credentials to the airlines. Multiple airlineapplications can be used, with each airline application specific to anairline. The applications and/or the browser can be configured to acceptcontrol through the platform, e.g., directly from the platform or fromthe platform IO.

In FIG. 18B, a user can contact 1 a platform 1810 through a platform IO1820. The platform can use a corporate identity to access airlines, suchas airlines #3. The platform can indirectly access 3 the airlineapplications 1840 to contact the airline #4. For example, the platformcan go through the user 1880 to access the airline application 1840. Insome embodiments, the user can log in 1 the platform, and then theplatform can use the credential of the user to access 3 the airlineapplication, for contacting airlines that prefer to deal with individualcustomers. Airline information collected from the airline application,such as information from airline #4, can be transferred 4 to theplatform, to be consolidated with airline information that the platformhas collected.

In some embodiments, the platform can access an airline through theairline website using a browser. The user credential can be supplied tothe airline website to identify to the airline that the platformrepresents the customer, an individual and not a corporate identity.

FIG. 19 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 1900 contacts first airlines by a platform, usinga company identity, to obtain flight information of the first airlines.Operation 1910 contacts second airlines by the platform, using anindividual identity, to obtain flight information of the secondairlines, wherein the platform uses the individual identity forcontacting the second airlines through applications of the secondairlines. Operation 1920 processes flight information of the first andsecond airlines by the platform.

FIG. 20 illustrates a configuration for identity coupling according tosome embodiments. The customer can contact airlines through a browser2030 or through airline applications 2041. For example, airlines #2 canbe accessed by the customer through the browser 2030. Airline #1 can beaccessed through the airline application 2041. The information fromthese airlines, e.g., airlines #1 and #2, can be passed to the platformfor consolidation.

The customer can contact a company platform 2010, for example, through aplatform IO 2020, for airline information, such as airlines #3.

The platform can access airline information through the airlineapplication, using the user identity. For example, the platform canaccess airline #4 through airline application 2042 using the customeridentity.

FIG. 21 shows a flow chart for identity coupling according to someembodiments. Operation 2100 contacts first airlines by a platform, usinga company identity, to obtain flight information of the first airlines.Operation 2110 contacts second airlines through a browser, using anindividual identity, to obtain flight information of the secondairlines. Operation 2120 contacts third airlines through applications ofthe third airlines, using an individual identity, to obtain flightinformation of the third airlines. Operation 2130 sends flightinformation of the second and third airlines to the platform. Operation2140 contacts fourth airlines by the platform, using an individualidentity, to obtain flight information of the fourth airlines, whereinthe platform uses the individual identity for contacting the fourthairlines through applications of the fourth airlines. Operation 2150processes flight information of the first, second, third, and fourthairlines by the platform.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a method for obtainflight itineraries from different airlines. The method can include usingdifferent identities to contact different airline entities.

For example, the method can include using a personal identity to contactairlines that cater to the individual consumers, such as low costairlines having websites for customers to book flight itineraries. Aplatform can use a personal identity to contact individual airlines forobtaining the flight itineraries of the individual airlines that meetthe requirements of the customer. The platform can use the customeridentity to contact airlines that prefer to deal with individualcustomers. The contact can be made through the websites of theindividual airlines. The personal identity can be the identification ofthe customer that contacts the platform to search for a flightitinerary. For example, the customer can establish an account with theplatform, and provide personal and preference information to theplatform. The customer can also allow the platform to represent thecustomer, e.g., using the customer identity, to contact vendors, such assale agents and product provides. Thus a customer can log in to theplatform, e.g., the platform can accept the log in credential from thecustomer. The platform then can use the customer credential as thepersonal identity.

The method can include using a corporate identity to contact an airlinenetwork or airlines that cater to the corporation. The airline networkcan include a computer reservation system that books and sells ticketsfor multiple airlines. For example, the airline network can includeGlobal Distribution System (GDS), which is a network of airlines thatcan function to provide reservations for the airlines in the network.The airline network can include Abacus, Amadeus, KIU, Mercator,Navitaire, Radixx, Sabre, Travel Technology Interactive, TravelSky, andTravelport GDS. Access to GDS network can be by a corporation, e.g.,individual consumers normally do not have access to GDS. Thus theplatform can use a corporate identity to contact GDS and having accessto the flight itineraries of the airlines participated in GDS.Individual airlines can also provide access to corporations, forexample, through Application Programming Interface (API) or through NewDistribution Capability (NDC) standards. Thus the platform can use acorporate identity to contact individual airlines through the airlineAPI or by using NDC standards to access the flight itineraries of theairlines.

The flight itineraries obtained from the airlines and from the airlinenetwork using the personal and corporate identities can be groupedtogether to present to the customer looking for travel. The flightitineraries can be sorted according to a preference of the customer oraccording to price.

In some embodiments, the present invention discloses a method for obtainflight itineraries from different airlines. The method can includeaccepting a request for a first flight itinerary from a customer. Forexample, the customer can send the request to a platform, which canprovide the customer with potential flight itineraries that meet thecustomer requirements. The requirements of the flight itinerary caninclude departure location, arrival location, and date of travel. Theplatform then can use a corporate identity to contact an airline networkfor obtaining flight itineraries from airlines in the airline network,wherein the flight itineraries satisfy conditions of the first flightitinerary. The platform then can use an identity of the customer tocontact individual airlines for obtaining flight itineraries of theindividual airlines, wherein the flight itineraries satisfy conditionsof the first flight itinerary. Contact individual airlines can includecontact one or more airlines through a website of each airline of theone or more airlines. The platform then can present the flightitineraries to the customer.

In some embodiments, provided is a machine readable storage, havingstored there on a computer program having a plurality of code sectionsfor causing a machine to perform the various steps and/or implement thecomponents and/or structures disclosed herein. In some embodiments, thepresent invention may also be embodied in a machine or computer readableformat, e.g., an appropriately programmed computer, a software programwritten in any of a variety of programming languages. The softwareprogram would be written to carry out various functional operations ofthe present invention. Moreover, a machine or computer readable formatof the present invention may be embodied in a variety of program storagedevices, such as a diskette, a hard disk, a solid state drive, a CD, aDVD, or a nonvolatile electronic memory. The software program may be runon a variety of devices, e.g. a processor on a data processing system.

In some embodiments, the methods can be realized in hardware, software,or a combination of hardware and software. The methods can be realizedin a centralized fashion in a data processing system, such as a computersystem or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spreadacross several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computersystem or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods describedherein can be used. A typical combination of hardware and software canbe a general-purpose computer system, which includes a desktop computer,a laptop computer, a network computer, or a mobile device such as a cellphone, with a computer program that can control the computer system sothat the computer system can perform the methods. The methods also canbe embedded in a computer program product, which includes the featuresallowing the implementation of the methods, and which when loaded in acomputer system, can perform the methods.

The terms “computer program”, “software”, “application”, variants and/orcombinations thereof, in the context of the present specification, meanany expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set ofinstructions intended to cause a system having an information processingcapability to perform a particular function either directly orindirectly. The functions can include a conversion to another language,code or notation, or a reproduction in a different material form. Forexample, a computer program can include a subroutine, a function, aprocedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executableapplication, an applet, a servlet, an app, a source code, an objectcode, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a data processing system, such asa computer.

In some embodiments, the methods can be implemented using a dataprocessing system, such as a general purpose computer system. A generalpurpose computer system can include a processor and a graphical displaymonitor with a graphics screen for the display of graphical and textualinformation, and optional a keyboard for textual entry of informationand a mouse for the entry of graphical data, and a computer processor.The keyboard and the mouse can be embedded in the graphical displaymonitor, e.g., in a touch screen monitor. In some embodiments, thecomputer processor can contain program code to implement the methods.Other devices, such as a light pen (not shown), can be substituted forthe mouse. This general purpose computer may be one of the many typeswell known in the art, such as a mainframe computer, a minicomputer, aworkstation, a personal computer, or a mobile device such as a cellphone.

FIG. 22 illustrates a computing environment according to someembodiments. An exemplary environment for implementing various aspectsof the invention includes a computer 2201, comprising a processing unit2231, a system memory 2232, and a system bus 2230. The processing unit2231 can be any of various available processors, such as singlemicroprocessor, dual microprocessors or other multi-processorarchitectures. The system bus 2230 can be any type of bus structures orarchitectures, such as 8-bit bus, Industrial Standard Architecture(ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA),Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB), PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), AdvancedGraphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation bus (PCMCIA), or Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI).

The system memory 2232 can include volatile memory 2233 and nonvolatilememory 2234. Nonvolatile memory 2234 can include read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory2233, can include random access memory (RAM), synchronous RAM (SRAM),dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM(DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), or directRambus RAM (DRRAM).

Computer 2201 also includes storage media 2236, such asremovable/nonremovable, volatile/nonvolatile disk storage, magnetic diskdrive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100drive, flash memory card, memory stick, optical disk drive such as acompact disk ROM device (CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CDrewritable drive (CD-RW Drive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive(DVD-ROM). A removable or non-removable interface 2235 can be used tofacilitate connection. These storage devices can be considered as partof the I/O device 2238 or at least they can be connected via the bus2230. Storage devices that are “on board” generally include EEPROM usedto store the BIOS.

The computer system 2201 further can include software to operate in theenvironment, such as an operating system 2211, system applications 2212,program modules 2213 and program data 2214, which are stored either insystem memory 2232 or on disk storage 2236. Various operating systems orcombinations of operating systems can be used.

Input devices can be used to enter commands or data, and can include apointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard,microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card,sound card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and thelike, connected through interface ports 2238. Interface ports 2238 caninclude a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, a universal serialbus (USB), and a 1394 bus. The interface ports 2238 can also accommodateoutput devices. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input tocomputer 2201 and to output information from computer 2201 to an outputdevice. Output adapter 2239, such as video or sound cards, is providedto connect to some output devices such as monitors, speakers, andprinters.

Computer 2201 can operate in a networked environment with remotecomputers. The remote computers, including a memory storage device, canbe a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a workstation,a microprocessor based appliance, a peer device or other common networknode and the like, and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed relative to computer 2201. Remote computers can be connectedto computer 2201 through a network interface 2235 and communicationconnection 2237, with wire or wireless connections. Network interface2235 can be communication networks such as local-area networks (LAN),wide area networks (WAN) or wireless connection networks. LANtechnologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), CopperDistributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet/IEEE 802.3, Token Ring/IEEE802.5 and the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to,point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like IntegratedServices Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packetswitching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL).

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a sample computing environmentwith which the present invention can interact. The system 2300 includesa plurality of client systems 2341.

The system 2300 also includes a plurality of servers 2343. The servers2343 can be used to employ the present invention. The system 2340includes a communication network 2345 to facilitate communicationsbetween the clients 2341 and the servers 2343. Client data storage 2342,connected to client system 2341, can store information locally.Similarly, the server 2343 can include server data storages 2344.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedisclosure.

Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of theinvention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations ofoperations on information. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are commonly used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively toothers skilled in the art. These operations, while describedfunctionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to beimplemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits,microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient attimes, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, withoutloss of generality. The described operations and their associatedmodules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or anycombinations thereof.

Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may beperformed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules,alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, asoftware module is implemented with a computer program productcomprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code,which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or allof the steps, operations, or processes described.

Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus forperforming the operations herein. This apparatus may be speciallyconstructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise ageneral-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfiguredby a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer programmay be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storagemedium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronicinstructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus.Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification mayinclude a single processor or may be architectures employing multipleprocessor designs for increased computing capability.

Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that isproduced by a computing process described herein. Such a product maycomprise information resulting from a computing process, where theinformation is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readablestorage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer programproduct or other data combination described herein.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited notby this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on anapplication based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodimentsof the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, ofthe scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine-implemented method comprising:determining, by a platform, a lowest price among the offered prices of aproduct selling by agents; and negotiating with a provider of theproduct to obtain a matched price, wherein the matched price iscompatible with the lowest price, wherein the matched price is to beoffered to customers when the customers contact the platform about theproduct.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprisesservices or operations operated or serviced by the product provider, andwherein the product comprises services or operations sold by the agentsand by the product provider.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theproduct comprises renting a car, getting a hotel room, buying a cruise,or buying an air flight.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the productprovider comprises a company renting cars, a company managed a hotel, acompany operating a cruise, or an airline operating air flights, andwherein the agents comprise selling agent, re-sale agents, ordistributor agents.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the matched pricedoffered by the product provider includes offerings from the productprovider.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: offering thematched price to a customer when the customer contacts the platformabout the product; directing the customer to the product provider whenthe customer accepts the offering of the matched price; or representingthe product provider to sell the product to the customer when thecustomer accepts the offering of the matched price.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: when a customer contacts the platform aboutthe product, contacting the agents, by the platform using identificationof the customer, to obtain product prices using the identification ofthe customer; and if the product prices are higher or the same as thematch price, offering the matched price to the customer.
 8. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: when a customer contacts the platformabout the product, contacting the agents, by the platform usingidentification of the customer, to obtain product prices using theidentification of the customer; if one of the product prices is lowerthan the match price, contacting the product provider for a new matchedprice; and offering the new matched price to the customer.
 9. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: when a customer contacts the platformabout the product, contacting the agents, by the platform usingidentification of the customer, to obtain product prices using theidentification of the customer; and if one of the product prices islower than the match price, directing the customer to the agent with thelowest product price.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:when a customer contacts the platform about the product, contacting theagents, by the platform using identification of the customer, to obtainproduct prices using the identification of the customer; if one of theproduct prices is lower than the match price, contacting the productprovider for a new matched price; and directing the customer to theagent with the lowest product price.
 11. A machine implemented methodcomprising: receiving an inquiry from a customer about a product;determining a lowest price among the offered prices of a product sellingby agents; negotiating with a provider of the product to obtain amatched price, wherein the matched price is compatible with the lowestprice; and offering the matched price to the customer.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein determining the lowest price is performed before orafter receiving the inquiry.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereindetermining the lowest price is performed by a platform.
 14. The methodof claim 11, wherein determining the lowest price is performed by aplatform using an identification of the customer.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein negotiating with the provider is performed by aplatform using an identification of the platform.
 16. The method ofclaim 11<further comprising: directing the customer to the productprovider when the customer accepts the offering of the matched price; orrepresenting the product provider to sell the product to the customerwhen the customer accepts the offering of the matched price.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: if the matched price is notobtained, directing the customer to the agent with the lowest price. 18.The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing offerings from theproduct provider, together with the price of the product.
 19. A machineimplemented method comprising: receiving an inquiry from a customerabout a product; offering a first price for the product to the customer,wherein the product is provided from a product provider, and wherein thefirst price is compatible with a lowest price for the product amongsecond prices selling by agents; and directing the customer to theproduct provider when the customer accepts the first price.
 20. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining the lowest priceamong second prices of the product selling by agents; negotiating withthe provider of the product to obtain the first price.